The Portland daily press., 1887-12-03
STAIN IN JAIL.
Lack of Hair Dye Causes a Change
In His Appearance.
Barker, vose d Barker to Defend the
Alleged murderer.
Reported Attempts to Buy Up the
Original story Teller.
Especial to the Press ]

BANGOR, Dec 2-Stain and Cromwell, ac-
cused Of numbering Treasurer Barron OF the
Dexter Savings Bank, remain qnietly in jail
and continue to maintain their innocence on
all occasions and to all persons. Cromwen,
however, at times seems to be ON the point
Of confessing, and then will stiffen up and
stoutly urge his freedom from guilt. stain
has been In hct water about his counsel. In
the beginning he retained Hon. Josiah Cros
by Of Dexter In that capacity, but they had
some misunderstanding about the remunera-
tion for Mr.. Crosby's services, and the latter
wrote to some of the prisoners friends in
Massachusetts about the finances of the de-
fence. The letter fell into Stains hands,
and not liking its contents, he gave up Mr.
Crosby. Rumor had it that he had secured
the services Of Jasper Hutchins, Esq, but
the truth is he has retained Barker, Vose d
Barker of this city as his counsel within
week. They have not decided what line of
defence they will follow. Mr.. Crosby, 1t is
understood, intended to make the sui
eide theory prominent. but it is
doubted whether the court would admit
it, and II 1t was admitted a tedious examina-
tion Of the books, requiring much time
to complete, would probably be found neces-
sary to prove deficiency in Mr.. Barron's
accounts. The firm of Barker, Vose g.
Barker consists of Hon. Lewis Barker, his
son, Lewis A. Barker, and Hon. 7. w. Vose.
The junior member, Lewis A. Barker, will
have the management of the case. One of
the gentlemen will shortly visit Massachu-
setts to collect evidence for the defence.
Stain is said to have plenty of money, and
will use it freely to secure yindication.
1t will be remembered that Stain wore his
beard and hair deep black, their original
color being red. When he was taken to prison
In this city strict orders were given that he
should not be allowed to use hair dye. Ac-
cordingly, he was not permitted to purchase
any and he considered it a great hardship,
making frequent efforts to get lit through the
turnkey and otherwise. Recently he made
an attempt to smuggle a quantity of coloring
matter into his cell by the aid of his daugh-
ter, who resides in Readfield, Mass. A va
lise containing wearing apparel and other
articles, came to the jail for Stain, 1t having
been forwarded by her. The contents were
carefully inspected, and tucked nicely. away
was found a bottle of dye for the hair. 1t
was confiscated, of course. and the accused
murderer is looking like different indiyidu-
al, his hair and moustache now showing
decided red tinge as growth progresses. 1t
is believed his desire not to change his ap-
pbarance arose from a fear that herwould be
more readily identified by Dexter citizens,
who testified to seeing him on the day of the
murder,
Perhaps one of the most important ques-
tions in this case is the producing of import
ant witnesses at the trial in Feb
ruary. Charles Stain, the main wit
ness, who is now stopping at East Read
field, was in Augusta this week and says
strenuous effort is being made to buy them
off. According to bis story, man who he
did not know, appeared in Readfeld the day
before Thanksgiving and remained there for
over week, laboring with him and offering
him large sums of money if he would refuse
to testify and skip" the State. He did not
yield to the inducsment held out, so he said.
He ascribed the efforts to buy him to inter-
ested parties in Dexter.
A legal gentleman, formerly connected
with the case, asserts that John Harvey, the
Readield witness for the government, is not
in very good bumor, because he thinks he
was not used very well on his trip to Maine
last fall, his fare home not being paid.
Harvey" further states the lawyer, will
demand $1Co check before coming to Ban
gor to testify"